- Ian Veneracion is positive about ABS-CBN franchise renewal.
- Veneracion is not worried about the threat of ABS-CBN’s closure.
- He promotes his upcoming concert in July titled IAN: in Colors.
Kapamilya actor Ian Veneracion is optimistic that the controversy surrounding ABS-CBN franchise renewal will be positively resolved.
In an interview with the press for his concert IAN: in Color, he was asked about the franchise issue.
In response, the actor-singer said he is hoping for the positive outcome of the controversy.
“I’m just hoping na matapos yun. I’m optimistic about it, that its gonna be resolved.”
He also believes that there shouldn’t be something to worry because of the fast-changing landscape in broadcasting which is currently being adapted by the company.
“I’m not worried about it now especially yung format is changing diba. We use to go to the theatre to watch movies, then we go to malls to watch movies and now we’re usually watching on our phones, on our devices, plus the landscape is changing so rapidly.”
Meanwhile, asked if he thinks ABS-CBN will survive this phase, Ian answered positively.
“I’m sure oo. And ewan ako, eh parte na nang, ako parte na nang buhay ko. Lumaki ako andyan na yan. Parte na nang history natin bilang Pilipino. Parang imposibleng imposibleng mabura na lang nang ganun so I’m sure mareresolba yan. Hindi ko lang alam kung pano kung anong magiging compromises really but I’m sure mareresolve yan.”
ABS-CBN is under threat of shutting down because of its franchise renewal woes.
Its franchise is scheduled to expire in March 2020, but the Congress has yet to act on the bill that seeks to renew it.
Just last week a news report by Philstar.com even quoted a source saying the franchise’s bill was frozen because of President Dutertes ire against the network.
“They have to thresh out and resolve their issues with the President. That’s the key to get the bill moving.”
But former lawmaker Terry Ridon was quick to clarify that a bill cannot be frozen. Non-enactment only means that the Committee on Legislative Franchise didn’t have time to deliberate on the franchise application.
“In simple terms, Congress simply did not act on the franchise renewal bill during the 17th Congress, especially with only a few weeks to go until the present term of office ends,” he said. Ridon, was a former Kabataan partylist Congressman and was also a member of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises during the 16th Congress, said.
Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimental echoed Ridon’s statement saying the bill’s deliberation did not proceed because it got caught by the Congress’s adjournment
“What happened is that deliberations on the franchise were not finished because inabutan na ng adjournment of the 17th Congress,” he was quoted saying.”
